Raj normalized the idea of girls at play in a deeply patriarchal society where the sight of girls on the field is still rare. Kitted out or not, she told these girls and their parents that it was ok for them to kick a ball or twirl a racket
Mithali Raj bats during the Women’s Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and India at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, March 27, 2022 (AFP)
When Mithali Raj made her debut in cricket in 1999, women role models in any field were hard to find. There was Indira Gandhi who remains an icon for political achievement, despite her tainted record for the Emergency. In the arts, Sonal Mansingh, the Mangeshkar sisters, and Mira Nair. And then there was PT Usha, the golden girl who launched a million dreams, and Ashwini Nachappa, who continues to advocate for sport in schools.